“Not what it was like in my day…..”
Times change. Opinions too. So be it…
But it’s not hard to see why the great race is no longer the jumping test of the “good old days…”
Several quantum leaps away from the course I walked in the eighties and nineties. Not wrong or a shame or a pity – just different. Clever horses like Tiger Roll flick through the top part of the loosely built fences in a manner that would have seen them on their noses a decade or three back….
Times change. But shortly after 4.00pm, after hopefully an immaculate start that does not have us screaming “let them go !!” at the starter, we will be in the race’s thrall for ten short minutes…
Sometimes, the starter on the big days behaves a little like the parish priest on Easter Sunday. Suddenly provided with an audience, he / she can slightly overplay their role. Here’s hoping it all goes smoothly, and that all come home safe….
Gooloogong jumped and travelled like the good horse we know him to be – but a slightly frustrating watch as he was always a little too far back and a little wide. In these races, those “littles” go a long way. He looked fabulous in the preliminaries, and there are days ahead under both codes for Mark and Lavinia Sherwood’s cool horse…
Across the pond, Rory on an imperious march around those immaculate Augusta acres. Six clear at halfway. Home for all money. But remember Crisp and Red Rum…
My Grand National stabs – Haiti Couleurs for Becky, Monty’s Star for Henry de B and Lecky Watson at a massive price for Willie…
Safe home, one and all…!!
